All information is current as of The Scoop’s production on Tuesday morning. Click the links for the most up-to-date information. The Athens County Independent believes the cited sources of information are reliable; however, these sources are responsible for the accuracy of their own reporting.
Submit news and information to info@athensindependent.com by noon on Mondays for inclusion in Tuesday’s issue of The Scoop.
Local
Judge George McCarthy disqualified the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office from a soon-to-begin murder trial because it obtained recordings of jail phone calls between the accused and his attorney. A special prosecutor from Columbus will conduct the trial of Brian Keith Hart, who is charged with the 2022 murder of his father. (Athens Messenger)
Former Republican state Rep. Jay Edwards launched a bid for Ohio Treasurer in 2026, joining a crowded GOP primary. Edwards, who lives in Nelsonville, served in the state House from 2017 to 2024 and chaired its Finance Committee in 2023–2024. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Regional
A Washington County man was found guilty last week of murders committed 30 years ago. Scott Hickman was charged with killing Kimberly Fulton and her 17-month-old son. The case was reopened in Washington County in 2019, leading to Hickman’s 2021 indictment; he will be sentenced Oct. 14. (Parkersburg News and Sentinel)
The Vinton County Grand Jury indicted the former utility clerk for the Village of McArthur in the alleged theft of water and sewer bill payments. Cathy Stoughton faces one felony count of theft in office, four felony counts of tampering with records, and a misdemeanor count of soliciting improper compensation. (Ohio Auditor of State)
Scioto County Commissioner Bryan Davis and spouse Lorinda Sue Davis were indicted last week on felony charges including corrupt activity, theft in office, and money laundering as part of an investigation into public contracts tied to the Southern Ohio Port Authority. Prosecutors allege Davis used his office to secure contracts while his wife, who is not a public official, took part through consulting firms she owned. (WOUB)
The Ohio Department of Transportation is studying the feasibility of constructing a new highway from Toledo to Chesapeake, largely following the U.S. 23 corridor. Existing segments of Interstate 73 could be used, depending on the study’s findings. (NBC4i)
State
Enrollment in Ohio public schools dropped by nearly 9% between 2000 and 2023 due to a declining birth rate and increases in homeschooling and use of vouchers for private schools. (NBC4i)
Former Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo, a Democrat, announced she is running for Ohio Secretary of State in 2026. (Ohio Capital Journal)
State officials and advocacy groups are urging Gov. Mike DeWine to recall the 150 Ohio National Guard troops recently deployed to Washington, D.C., arguing that the deployment is unjustified, as violent crime in D.C. is at a 30-year low and Ohio cities experienced higher crime rates in 2024. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Unionized Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio employees have askedexecutives to take a pay cut to ensure the organization’s frontline staff remain employed after losing more than $10 million in federal funding. (Cleveland.com)
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